Article package convertible to a container



Oct. 15, 1968 s. D. COLLIE ARTICLE PACKAGE CONVERTIBLE TO A CONTAINER Filed Nov. 4, 1966 FIG. 2

INVENTOR. 3 S.D.COLLIE A T TORNE KS" United States Patent 3,405,858 ARTICLE PACKAGE CONVERTIBLE TO A CONTAINER Stafford D. Collie, Kansas City, Mo., assignor to Phillips Petroleum Company, a corporation of Delaware Filed Nov. 4, 1966, Ser. No. 592,158 Claims. (Cl. 229-) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE In a cup-shaped package having a substantially continuous side wall and a bottom wall, the bottom wall comprises a central diaphragm portion, at least one sloping wall section extending from the side wall to the central diaphragm portion, and a plurality of spaced triangularly shaped channel-like members extending from the side wall to the central diaphragm portion. The diaphragm portion and the channel-like members are shaped to permit the vertical displacement of the sloping wall section and the diaphragm portion.

This invention relates to article packages which are convertible to containers or dishes. In one of its aspects, it relates to an article package which is convertible to a suitable container for the article by pushing in the bottom wall of the package, the bottom wall having a downwardly and inwardly sloping surface and a central diaphragm portion which is disposed upwardly within the package when the same is converted to a container.

The advent of thermoplastic materials such as polyethylene and polystyrene have precipitated a revolution in the packaging field. Many new packages or articles have been devised. Generally, once the article is ready to be consumed, the package is not useable. This is especially true in the case of articles such as soap.

I have now discovered an article package which can be converted to a container, for example, a soap dish, after the package is opened.

By various aspects of this invention, one or more of the following or other objects can be obtained.

It is an object of this invention to provide an article package which is convertible into a useable container from which the article can be easily removed.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a soap package which is convertible to a soap dish.

Other aspects, objects and the several advantages of this invention are apparent to one skilled in the art from a study of this disclosure, the drawings, and the appended claims.

According to the invention, there is provided an article package which is convertible to a container or dish-shaped holder for the article. The package is generally cup-shaped with a substantially continuous side wall integral with a bottom wall which bottom wall contains at least one generally downwardly and inwardly sloping wall section, the sloping wall section extending from the side wall to a central diaphragm area which central diaphragm area is so shaped that upward pressure on the same with relation to the side walls causes said diaphragm portion and said sloping wall section to be displaced upwardly until the sloping wall sections slope upwardly and inwardly in a stable position.

The invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which FIGURE 1 is an elevational view of a container according to the invention, FIGURE 2 is a top view of the container shown in FIGURE 1, and FIGURE 3 is a sectional view through lines 33 of the container shown in FIGURE 2 in the modified position.

Referring now to the drawings, there is provided a cupshaped package having side walls 2 with an upper rim 16 at the top thereof. The rim can be used for closing the package by placing a cover having a downwardly extending flange with interlocking grooves for rim 16. The bottom 4 of the package contains a plurality of supporting members 8 which are triangularly shaped and extend from the rounded corner 18 substantially vertically downwardly and then extend inwardly to a central diaphragm area 10, interspersed between each supporting means 8 are generally downwardly and inwardly sloping walls 6 which extend from the side walls 2 to the central diaphragm area 10.

The central diaphragm area 10 is preferably frustopyramidally shaped having walls 12 extending upwardly and a central upwardly concave area 14.

When it is desirable to convert the package into a dish or container, pressure is applied upwardly in the central diaphragm area 10 to cause movement of the sloping wall section 6 and the central diaphragm area 10 upwardly. Movement of the wall 6 will continue until a stable position is reached, as shown in FIGURE 3. Generally, the angle the wall 6 makes with the horizontal will be the same in FIGURE 3 as FIGURE 1 except that the angle will be upward with respect to the horizontal in FIGURE 3 and downward with respect to the horizontal in FIG- URE l (with respect to the junction of the sloping walls 6 with the side walls 2). The concave upward shape of area 14 provides flexibility for the bottom so that the bot tom wall can contract during the transition from the package to the container or dish. As can be seen from FIGURE 3, when the soap or other article is placed in the converted dish of FIGURE 3, it will protrude substantially above rim 16, thereby facilitating the removal of the article. This novel convertible package is especially adaptable to the packaging of soap bars.

As is understood by one skilled in the art, the package can be closed in any known manner. For example, the package could be wrapped with a transparent material or a lid could be sealed on the top thereof.

Whereas the invention has been described with regard to a rectangularly shaped package, it is within the scope of the invention to provide any shaped package, i.e., round, triangular, pentagonal, hexagonal, etc., and to accordingly provide less than or more than four supporting members 8. Generally, at least three supporting members will be desired to provide a stable dish. However, the invention is still operable when no supporting members are provided. Supporting members are preferred, however, since the shape of these supporting members, i.e., the triangularly shaped channel of like members 8, aids in the contraction of the bottom in the transition from the package to the container or dish. The rounded corner 18 serves as a hinge for the rotation of supporting members 8 during the transition from the package to the container or dish.

Further, the frusto-pyramidal shape of the central dia phragm area 10, although preferred, is not essential. A suitable convertible package could be made by using only the concave upwardly shaped portion 14 of the central diaphragm area 10. Alternately, any other shaped portion could be used which would allow the bottom to flex sutficiently so that the bottom could be transformed from the package to the container or dish.

As can be seen from FIGURE 3, the platform provided by portion 14 in combination with the downwardly sloping walls 6 provides an excellent place for water to drain from a soap bar which is placed on platform 14. It is within the scope of this invention to provide drain holes within support members 8 or in the bottom portion of sloping wall 6.

The package according to the invention can be manufactured from any thermoplastic material which has substantial flexibility to permit the transformation from the package to the container or dish as has been described hereinbefore. The examples of such materials are polyethylene, polypropylene, polybutene-l, polystyrene, polyvinylchloride, and the like.

Reasonable variation and modification are possible within the scope of the foregoing disclosure, the drawings, and the claims to theinvention without departing from the spirit thereof.

I claim:

1. An article package convertible to a containeror dish in which the article is easily removable therefrom, said package comprising a cup-shaped member with a bottom wall and a substantially continuous side wall integral therewith, said bottom wall having a central diaphragm portion,

at least one generally downwardly and inwardly sloping wall section extending from said side wall to said central diaphragm portion,

a plurality of supporting means within said bottom Wall spaced apart such that said cup-shaped member is thereby supported, each of said supporting means comprising a thin triangularly shaped channel-like member which extends substantially vertically downwardly from a point at least closely adjacent to the junction of a sloping wall section and said wide wall and substantially laterally inwardly to said diaphragm portion,

said central diaphragm portion and said supporting means being so shaped that upward pressure on said central diaphragm portion with respect to said side wall causes said diaphragm portion and said sloping wall section to be displaced upwardly until said at least one sloping wall section is sloping upwardly and inwardly in a stable position.

2. An article package according to claim 1 wherein the juncture of said side wall with said supporting means is an inwardly shaped rounded section which serves as a hinge for said supporting means when said container is made from said package.

3. An article package according to claim 1 wherein said central diaphragm portion is frusto-pyramidally shaped extending upwardly from the juncture of the same with said at least one sloping Wall section, vand the top portion of said frusto-pyramidal central diaphragm portion is shaped concave upwardly.

4. An article package according to claim 1 wherein there are at least three supporting means and three sloping wall sections interposed between said supporting means.

5. An article package according to claim 1 wherein there are four supporting means and four sloping wall sections and said cup-shaped member is substantially rectangularly shaped in horizontal cross-section.

6. An article package according to claim 1 wherein said central diaphragm portion contains an upwardly concave portion such that flexing of the same aids in transformation of said package to said container.

7. An article package according to claim 1 wherein said central diaphragm portion is frusto-pyramidally shaped extending upwardly fromv the junction of the same with said at least one downwardly slopingjwallsection.

8. An article package convertible to a container or dish in which the article is easily removable therefrom, said package comprising a cup-shaped member with a bottom wall and a substantially continuous side wall integral therewith, said bottom wall having a central diaphragm portion, I

at least one generally downwardly and inwardly sloping wall section extending from said side Wall to said central diaphragm portion,

said central diaphragm portion being frusto-pyramidally shaped and extending upwardly from the junction of the same with said at least one downwardly sloping wall section, a top portion of said frusto-pyramidally shaped central diaphragm portion being con caved upwardly, whereby upward pressure on said central diaphragm portion with respect :to said side wall causes said central diaphragm portion and said at least one sloping wall section to be displaced upwardly until said at least one wall section is sloping upwardly and inwardly in a stable position.

9. An article of manufacture comprising a cup-shaped member with a bottom wall and a substantially continu ous side wall integral therewith, said bottom wall having a central diaphragm portion,

at least one generally upwardly and inwardly sloping wall section extending'from said side wall to said central diaphragm portion,

a plurality of supporting means within said bottom wall spaced apart such that said cup-shaped member is thereby supported, each of said supporting means comprising a thin triangularly shaped channel-like member which extends inwardly and downwardly from a point at least closely adjacent to the junction of a sloping wall section and said side wall and inwardly and upwardly to said diaphragm portion.

10. An article of manufacture in accordance with claim 9 wherein there are four of said supporting means and four sloping wall sections and said cup-shaped member is substantially rectangular in horizontal cross-section.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS DAVID M. BOCKENEK, Primary Examiner.

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE PATENT OFFICE Washington, 0.6. 20231 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECT-ION Patent No. 3,405,858 October 15, 1968 Stafford D. Collie It is certified that error appears in the above identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 3, line 27, "wide" should read side Signed and sealed this 31st day of March 1970.

(SEAL) Attest:

WILLIAM E. SCHUYLER, JR.

Attesting Officer 

